Perth Laboratory - Public Seminar Series 2005

Development and application of isotope hydrology facilities in Pakistan

Dr Riffat Mahmood Qureshi
Head, Radiation and Isotope Application Division (RIAD)
Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH)

Friday 28 October 2.30pm, CSIRO Auditorium

Abstract

Isotope hydrology or nuclear hydrology has emerged as a powerful scientific discipline for consideration by hydrologists of the 21st Century while dealing with issues related to the environment (air, soil, water). The Radiation and Isotope Application Division (RIAD) at the Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science & Technology (PINSTECH), Islamabad, has established one of the most efficient and state of the art isotope hydrological facilities in Pakistan achieving international standards. Facilities are now available to analyse the full spectrum of the most commonly used isotopes such as ²H, ³H, ¹³C, ¹⁴C, ¹⁵N, ¹⁸O and ³⁴S in hydrological, geological, environmental, biological and agricultural samples.

Stable isotope contents are measured by gas source mass spectrometers. Tritium (³H) contents are measured by electrolysis enrichment techniques while ¹⁴C contents are measured by the conventional benzene synthesis technique and/or direct CO2 absorption technique employing liquid scintillation spectrometry. Radiotracers like ²⁴Na, ⁸²Br, ⁶⁰Co, ¹⁹⁸Au, ¹³¹I, ⁵¹Cr, ^99mTc, and ⁴⁶Sc can be prepared at the Pakistan Research Reactor-I (PARR-I) for use in hydrological investigations.

The isotope hydrological tools are now being extensively used to investigate a variety of hydrological and environmental studies in Pakistan such as:

• interrelationship between surface water and groundwater (identification of the sources of groundwater recharge, causes of waterlogging and salinity, seepage from reservoirs and canals, evaluation of the effectiveness of delay-action dams and their contribution towards groundwater recharge, groundwater age/residence time estimates)
• surface water/groundwater pollution (sources of pollutants and vulnerability of aquifer to pollution)
• marine coastal pollution (seawater intrusion in coastal aquifers, fate and behaviour of pollutants in receiving seawaters) etc.

The developed facilities and experience are also extended to several national organisations dealing with water resources, hydrocarbon/mineral resources development and industry etc. The isotope hydrology/ecology laboratories at RIAD/PINSTECH have regularly participated in the IAEA inter-laboratory comparison programs since 1980 and have earned international recognition.

These laboratories are providing isotope analytical services and training opportunities to RCA/IAEA Member States like Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia. Isotope hydrologists at RIAD/PINSTECH also perform IAEA/RCA expert assignments in the field of mass spectrometry and isotope hydrology in selected countries of South-East Asia, Middle East, Africa, Europe and South America.

About the Speaker

Dr Riffat Mahmood Qureshi is the Deputy Chief Scientist and Head, Radiation & Isotope Application Division (RIAD) at the Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH) in Islamabad, Pakistan. You can contact him on riffat@pinstech.org.pk.

For further details contact Jackie Walsh (08) 9333 6380
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